Pick a clean, professional template that shows your job history clearly. For a Bridge Painter, use a reverse-chronological layout so your recent bridge projects and safety training appear first.
Keep your resume to one page if you have under 10 years of related work. Use two pages only if you list many relevant certifications, project logs, or heavy equipment experience.
Choose ATS-friendly fonts like Calibri, Arial, Georgia, or Garamond. Set body text to 10–12pt and headers to 14–16pt for clear scanning.
Keep margins at about 0.5–1 inch and use consistent line spacing. White space helps hiring managers and software read sections fast.
Avoid complex columns, heavy graphics, and unusual fonts. Simple formatting beats creative designs for both people and ATS scanners.
Use clear headings: Contact, Summary, Experience, Certifications, Safety Training, Skills, and Education. Put certifications like OSHA, confined space, or rope access in their own section.
List achievements with brief bullets and numbers when you can. For example, note the tonnage painted, number of spans, or percentage improvement in coating longevity.
Common mistakes to avoid include dense blocks of text, inconsistent dates, and mixed fonts. Also avoid long equipment lists that don't relate to the job you want.